1. What Does It Mean to be “Free Indeed”?

2. America is the land of the free. 1
America is the land of the free! 1. The staggering immigration rates proves it.

3. America is the land of the free. 1
America is the land of the free! 1. The staggering immigration rates proves it. 2. Our military have fought wars to defend it.

4. America is the land of the free. 1
America is the land of the free! 1. The staggering immigration rates proves it. 2. Our military have fought wars to defend it. 3. Great crusaders like Martin Luther King have enhanced it.

5. John 8: So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

6. John 8:30-36 - Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him
John 8: Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

7. America is the land of the free But what does it really mean to be Free Indeed?

8. I. What was Freedom Like During Ancient Times?

9. I. What was Freedom Like During Ancient Times?
A. Hebrew society during Jesus’ day.

10. I. What was Freedom Like During Ancient Times?
A. Hebrew society during Jesus’ day. 1. According to the Law slaves were to be treated humanely & with dignity.

11. I. What was Freedom Like During Ancient Times?
A. Hebrew society during Jesus’ day. 1. According to the Law slaves were to be treated humanely & with dignity. 2. Hebrew slaves could be redeemed anytime.

12. 1. What was Freedom Like During Ancient Times?
Exodus 21:2 - If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything.

13. 1. What was Freedom Like During Ancient Times?
Exodus 21:2 - “If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything. Leviticus 25: If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave. He is to be treated as a hired worker or a temporary resident among you; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. Then he and his children are to be released, and he will go back to his own clan and to the property of his forefathers.

14. 1. What was Freedom Like During Ancient Times?
B. Roman society during Jesus’ day.

15. 1. What was Freedom Like During Ancient Times?
B. Roman society during Jesus’ day. 1. Slaves were the property of their masters.

16. 1. What was Freedom Like During Ancient Times?
B. Roman society during Jesus’ day. 1. Slaves were the property of their masters. 2. Non-slaves did not necessarily have civil rights. Only the free born Roman citizen could claim them.

17. 1. What was Freedom Like During Ancient Times?
B. Roman society during Jesus’ day.
3. How did the apostle Paul use this status to advantage?
Acts 16:35 & 37 - When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

18. 1. What was Freedom Like During Ancient Times?
Acts 22: As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”

19. 1. What was Freedom Like During Ancient Times?
Acts 22: When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.” The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered. Then the commander said, “I had to pay a big price for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied. Those who were about to question him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.

20. I. What was Freedom Like During Ancient Times. II
I. What was Freedom Like During Ancient Times? II. What is Freedom as a Christian?

21. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
A. The Christian faith did not do away with the practice of slavery.

22. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
A. The Christian faith did not do away with the practice of slavery.
Galatians 3: There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

23. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
The Christian faith did not do away with the practice of slavery.
The Book of Philemon

24. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
B. Everyone becomes a slave when they commit sin.
John 8:34 - I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

25. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
B. Everyone becomes a slave when they commit sin.
John 8:34 - I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . .

26. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
B. Everyone becomes a slave when they commit sin.
John 8:34 - I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . .
Romans 5:12 - Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.

27. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
C. How did we get our freedom? When Jesus died on the cross! What does this freedom include?

28. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
C. How did we get our freedom? When Jesus died on the cross! What does this freedom include? 1. Freedom from the Law of Moses.

29. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
C. How did we get our freedom? When Jesus died on the cross! What does this freedom include?
1. Freedom from the Law of Moses.
Colossians 2:14 - having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

30. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
C. How did we get our freedom? When Jesus died on the cross! What does this freedom include?
1. Freedom from the Law of Moses.
Romans 8:2 - because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

31. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
C. How did we get our freedom? When Jesus died on the cross! What does this freedom include?
1. Freedom from the Law of Moses.
2. Freedom from sin.
Romans 6:18 - You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

32. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36
D. What does “free indeed” really mean then?

33. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36
1. Freedom must be within certain boundaries.

34. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36
1. Freedom must be within certain boundaries.
2. Freedom in America is freedom under law.

35. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36
3. Freedom in the family is under the authority of the husband/father.

36. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36
3. Freedom in the family is under the authority of the husband/father.
A wife who submits to her husband’s authority is promised special spiritual power!

37. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36
3. Freedom in the family is under the authority of the husband/father.
I Peter 3:1-2 - Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

38. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
3. Freedom in the family is under the authority of the husband/father.
I Peter 3:1-2 - Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
Purity (ἁγνός) = pure, chaste, holy
Reverence (φόβος) = fear

39. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36
3. Freedom in the family is under the authority of the husband/father.
I Peter 3:7 - Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

40. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
3. Freedom in the family is under the authority of the husband/father.
I Peter 3:7 - Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Considerate (γνῶσις) = being knowledgeable
Respect (τῑμή) = honor, worship

41. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36
4. “Free indeed” is spiritual freedom within the scope of God’s word.

42. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36
4. “Free indeed” is spiritual freedom within the scope of God’s word.
John 8:32 - Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

43. II. What is Freedom as a Christian?
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36
4. “Free indeed” is spiritual freedom within the scope of God’s word.
John 8:32 - Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
You are free within the boundaries of God’s Word!

44. You are free to be what God created you to be
You are free to be what God created you to be living the way He intended for you to live. When you receive the peace & contentment He planned for you to have Then you will be free indeed!